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Kiladangan's Kelly selected as Hero of the Community

Long serving Kiladangan GAA player and official Paddy Kelly has been selected as the Nenagh Guardian's Hero of the Community award winner for 2018.

Kelly, will be presented with his award at the annual Nenagh Guardian Sports Awards at the Great National Abbey Court Hotel, in association with Lyons of Limerick & Nenagh on Friday 25th January next.

Having first played adult hurling in 1956, Paddy Kelly enjoyed a successful senior career up to 1965 and in 1966 he won the first of two North Intermediate hurling medals, the second coming five years later when he captained the team and followed it up by adding the county title.

In Tipperary's triumphant run to the All-Ireland Intermediate Championship in 1972, Paddy Kelly was captain of the side but injury prevented him from lining out in the final against Galway in Birr. His disappointment was more than compensated for in seeing fellow Kiladangan club man Noel Seymour accept the coveted trophy.

Off the field, Paddy represented Kiladangan on the North Board and was chairman of the club from 1989 to 1996. During his tenure the club grounds at Puckane were revamped and new
dressing rooms erected.
In his 80th year, Paddy Kelly is still very much to the fore of Kiladangan GAA club and is usually the first face you see when one attends a match in Puckane where he carries out his role of looking after the GAA grounds and pitch which includes opening and closing the dressing rooms, overseeing maintenance works, parking cars at matches, and many other areas that perhaps go unnoticed. A job that he has done for numerous years.
He is actively involved in fundraising and also has a great rapport with players and members, both young and old, and can relate and chat so easily with all age groups.